But they won't let you spin your tire's when you need to. I almost stuck my last truck in mud due to leaving the traction control on. I needed some wheel speed and all I got was the equivalent putting my foot in a bucket of mud! Turned off the traction and managed to rock the truck back and enough to get it unstuck, also had mud all up and down the sides and mirrors!

 

A good set of tires will play a better role then a locking diff in your daily needs. I have never used my locking diff as of yet. I travel through mud, snow, dirt roads, wet grass, but no deep sand. Hopefully a trip to the Outer Banks this year will change that.

 

My former truck, a 2014 Honda Ridgeline could, with the push of a button, lock ALL FOUR in first or second gear or reverse, up to 18 MPH. Honda advised not to do much steering with them all locked. It was a very capable 4wd vehicle, especially on ice.
I was a little confused as to whether an F150 could do that.

So, in an F150, do the combined efforts of AdvanceTrac, Stability control and Traction control negate some of the need for a locking diff?

 

Yes they do. Really you only need the locker in the most extreme of circumstances IMHO.

-Alan

 

Yes. The one wheel spin control works on the front axle in 4x4 as well. It's a damn good system IMO.

 

I find the 4x4 system in the F-150 works great without a locker. There are systems in place that try and keep one wheel from spinning. If you're on fairly flat surfaces, then you're fine without a locker. In fact, when on flat surfaces in snow and mud, my locker has never gotten me further. I only turn it on when the terrain gets lumpy like the below. Flexing the suspension like the below is when a locker is really needed.

 

Here's your answer:

http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsS...trac/index.htm

I actually pulled the e-locker out of my Nissan Frontier to put one of these in. IMO it's WAY better than having a locker since it acts like a limited slip on the streets for daily driving, but acts almost as good as a locker off-road.

 

You misunderstood how the system works int he Ridgeline. It does not lock all four wheels.

http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/V...-4-Explanation

Had the same setup in my wife's Honda Pilot.

 

My only worry would be the gravel in river beds and edges. If it's really dry, dusty and deep, that stuff is like quicksand. I grew up in Arizona and that was a good way to frame out my vehicle was traversing that stuff. Very rare to run into the right mix/gradation of gravel and moisture though.

That Eaton limited slip mentioned in a post above sounds real nice. I feel that is way more useful than the ultra rare need for a locker.

 

My last truck had a locker and no traction control so I made sure my F150 did. Though I ordered max tow so it came along without specifically asking for it. After owning the F150 for a year through winter and hauling firewood off a mountain in PA this spring I have yet to use the locker! I've played with it a couple of times, but couldn't see a noticeable difference between with it on and with it off. I didn't have any tires off the ground though.

And honestly, even with the stock street tires, it handled the PA firewood runs in 2wd damn near as well as my Tacoma in 4 high. I only put it in 4 high going up the steep trails lined with mud and wet leaves to keep from rutting up the trails since it wasn't my buddy's land we were on.